Loose-leaf binder.



PATENTED AUG. '7, 1906.

E. A. TRUSSELL.

v LOOSE LEAF BINDER.

APPLICATION FILED DEC. 5, 1904.

3 SHEETS-SHEET 1.

r": mmms Pzrsas ca WASHINGTON, n. c.

PATENTED AUG.- 7, 1906. E. A. TRUSSELL. LOOSE LEAF BINDER. APPLICATION FILED DBO.5,1904.

3 SHEETS-SHEET 2.

r: NORRIS PETERS ca., wasnmcmu, n c.

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

EMORY A. TRUSSELL, OF ST. LOUIS, MISSOURI, ASSIGNOR TO & TRUSSELL MFG. CO, A CORPORATION OF MISSOURI.

LOOSE-LEAF BINDER.

Patented Aug. 7, 1906.

Application filed December 5, 1904. Serial N0. 235,495-

T at whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, EMORY A. TRUSSELL, a citizen of the United States, and a resident of the city of St. Louis and State of Missouri, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Loose-Leaf Binders, of which the following is a specification and which are illustrated in the accompanying drawings, forming a part thereof.

This invention relates to expansible back frames of binders for loose leaves, and more particularly to three-part back frames which comprise two side members, each having an instanding leaf forming a part of the'back and an auxiliary back member completing the back.

The objects of the invention are to provide a binder-frame of simple construction and having a wide range of movement, and, further, to provide means for obtaining increasing power for compression as the side members are closed upon the contents of the binder.

The invention consists in the construction and arrangement of parts to be hereinafter described, and illustrated in the accompanying drawings, in Which- Figure 1 is a plan view of my improved binder-frame. Figs. 2, 3, and 4 are sectional views on the lines 2 2, 3 3, and 4 4, respec tively, of Fig. 1. Fig. 5 is an end elevation. Figs. 6 and 7 are detail plan views of my improved binder, showing modifications in the construction; and Figs. 8 and 9 are detail sectional views on the lines 8 8 and 9 9, respectively, of Fig. 7.

The binder-frame comprises the side members 10 and 11, each having integral with it an instanding leaf 12 and 13, forming a part of the back of the frame, and inturned end pieces 14 14 and 15 15 partially inclosing the ends. The auxiliary back member 16 has a bearing against the leaves 12 and 13 and is provided with upturned ends 17 17, which with the end pieces 14 and 15 complete the ends of the frame. The upper edges of the members 17 are overturned, as shown at 18, to provide ways in which the end plates 14 and 15 may slide.

In forming a completed binder the exterior described is given a desirable finish or covered with leather or other suitable material, and flexing extensions (not shown) may be attached to the forward edges of the side members 10 and 11, such extensions forming the covers to the binder.

The side members 10 and 11 are provided with the usual telescoping posts, which receive the leaves and which constitute a further guide for the sliding movement of the parts. The limit of the closing of the frame is the contact of the inner edges of the leaves 12 and 13 with each other or, preferably, with a rib 20, formed on the back plate 16 along its median line and intended to give strength to this part. The expansion of the frame is so limited that the inner edges of the leaves 12 and 13 remain within the margin of the back member 16.

The movement of the side members 10 and 11 is controlled by means of a pair of leverarms 21 and 22, pivoted at 23 to the back plate 16, and each provided adjacent its ends with cam-slots 24 and 25, which engage rollers 26 and 27, mounted upon the pins 28 and 29, carried by the brackets 30 and 31, rising from the side members 10 and 11. Preferably these brackets 30 and 31 are bifurcated, the levers 21 and 22 being received between the two parts, which form guides for insuring the contact of the rollers with the edges of the cam-slots.

The levers 21 and 22 are actuated by a cam action from a cross-head 32, mounted upon a threaded shaft 33, supported in suitable hangers 34 and 35 from the back plate 16. This threaded shaft is fixed against longi tudinal movement by being shouldered where it engages the hangers, as indicated at 36 and 37, and isrecessed at its outer end, as shown at 38, to receive a key by means of which it may be rotated to reciprocate the cross-head 32. The end plate 17 is provided with the aperture 39 to permit the insertion of the key.

In the preferred construction the leverarms 21 and 22 are provided with cam-slots 40 and 41, which receive cam-engaging rollers 42 and 43, carried by the cross-head 32. The construction of the cross-head preferably includes the laterally and forwardly ex- I as shown at 48 and 49 in Fig. 6.

having their ends movably secured to the between which the rollers are rotatably secured by the pivot-screws 46 and 47. The rollers are provided with flanges to resist the tendency of the cross-head to turn with the screw-shaft 33 and to revent the wings 44 and 45 from frictional y engaging the faces of the lever-arms.

The opening and closing of the binderframe is accomplished by rotating the screw-- shaft, as above described, to advance or retract the cross-head 32, which by a cam action of the rollers 42 and 43 upon the edges of the slots 40 and 41 swings the lever-arms 21 and 22 about the pivot 23. It will be readily understood that when provided with straight slots 40 and 41, as shown in Fig. 1, the lever-arms by swinging produce a considerable change in the inchne of the cam edges of these slots to the direction of movehaving;

ment of the cross-head, this incline becoming much more gradual, and thus giving the operator a greater purchase upon the contents of the binder when the latter is nearly closed. On the other hand, when the binder is open and the lever-arms correspondingly spread apart the incline of the cam-slots is very steep, and a rapid movement of the sides of the binder is obtained on rotating the screw-shaft.

While the effects just described are useful, it may be desirable to modify them, and this is readily accomplished by providing the lever-arms 21 and 22 With curved cam-slots,

A modified means of obtaining the cam action between the cross-head 32 and the lever-arms 21 and 22 is illustrated in Figs. 7, 8, and 9. In this form of construction the cross-head 56 is provided with a pair of laterally-extending bifurcated wings 50 and 51, which receive the lever-arms between their parts and which are provided with the inclined cam-slots 52 and 53. Pins 54 and 55 are secured in the lever-arms and ride in these cam-slots.

I claim as my invention 1. In an eXpansible frame for loose-leaf binders, in combination, a pair of side plates havin instanding back leaves, an intermediate ack plate in sliding engagement with such leaves, oscillating crossed lever-arms pivoted on the intermediate back plate and having their ends movably secured to the side plates, a cross-head having a cam engagement with the lever-arms, and means for reciprocating the cross-head.

, 2. In an expansible frame for loose-leaf binders, in combination, a pair of side plates havin instanding back leaves, an intermediate back plate in sliding engagement with such leaves, oscillating crossed lever-arms pivoted on the intermediate back plate and back head carried by the screw-shaft having latlever-arms, and pins set intermediate b .by the screw-shaft having laterally-extending wings which embrace the lever-arms, ins

ver-arms oblique to back member; side members member and engaging the slde members; and

ing a movement oblique to the cam-slots,

and means for recipro 3.

cating the cross-head. In an expansible frame for loose-leaf binders, in combination, a pair of side plates havin instandmg back leaves, an intermediate ack plate in sliding engagement with -such leaves, oscillating crossed lever-arms pivoted on the intermediate back plate and having their ends movably secured to the side plates, cam-slots in the lever-arms, a cross-head with cam-engaging members having a movement oblique to the cam-slots, and a screw-shaft journaled on the intermediate back plate and carrying the cross-head.

4. In an eXpansible frame for loose-leaf binders, in combination, a pair of side plates instanding back leaves, an intermediate ack plate in sliding engagement with such leaves, oscillating crossed lever-arms pivoted on the intermediate back plate and having their ends movably secured to the side plates, cam-slots in the lever-arms, a screw-shaft journaled on the intermediate plate oblique to the cam-slots, a crosserally-extending wings which embrace the through the wings carrying rollers for engaging the edges of the cam-slots.

5. In an expansible frame for loose-leaf binders, in combination, a pair of side plates having instanding back leaves, an intermediate back plate in sliding engagement with such leaves, oscillating crossed lever-arms pivoted on the intermediate back plate and aving cam-slots adjacent their ends, bifurcated brackets extending inwardly from the side plates and straddling the lever-arms,

pins set through the brackets and engaging the cam-slots, a screw-shaft ournaled on the ack plate, a cross-head carried set through the wings, cam-engaging ro lers carried by the pins, and cam-slots in the lethe screw-shaft for receiving the rollers.

6. In a loose-leaf binder, in combination, a

pair of movable side members; a pair of levers for moving such members and having shiftable connection therewith ing member slidably engaging the levers to a reciprocatactuate them; the parts being so arranged that the points of engagement of the actuating member with the levers and of the levers with the side members approach as the side members are moved toward each other.

7. In a loose-leaf binder, in combination, a a pair of laterally-movable levers pivoted on the back means for swinging thelevers, the point of members; a cross-head slidingly engaging application of such means to the levers shiftthe levers; and means for moving the cross- 10 ing. agay from the pivlots thereof as the side head. mem ers move 1nWar 8. In a loose-leaf binder, in combination, a EMORY TRUSSELL' back member and a pair of laterally-movable Witnesses: side members; levers pivoted to the back GEO. A. ROLAND, member and slidingly engaging the side F. W. BIS UE. 

